SCOUTING REPORT

Strengths

Crowley may not have one player who clearly stands out from the rest, but it is strong in numbers at the top. With 23 seniors listed on the roster, new Gents head coach Jeptha Wall — Crowley’s former defensive coordinator who’s replacing Josh Fontenot — has a strong leadership core on his hands. Senior quarterback Paul Dugar returns to lead the Gents’ pro-style offense after being hampered by injuries as a junior. He’ll be joined by two more seniors in the backfield, running back Keith Wilson and fullback Donald Francis. Wide receiver Chris Lewis is a versatile senior who will play both ways. Despite losing senior guard Craig Domingue to a preseason knee injury, Crowley has depth and experience on the offensive line, including talented tackles Darian Landry and Cole Simon. The Gents also return an All-District selection at tight end: junior Rapheus Joseph.

On defense, more seniors dot the lineup. Nose guard Desmond Harmon has been starter since his freshman season. Desmond’s brother, sophomore defensive end Kendall Harmon, is a big body up front, while senior Michael Dupre will play opposite of him. Senior outside linebacker Jalean Jenkins is a long and lean playmaker. The starting secondary is entirely made up of fourth-year players, including returning starters Perry Myles and Jordan Mouton.

Staying healthy is a priority for every football team. But when a squad is crippled by the number of injuries that Crowley sustained last season, it’s an even bigger issue heading into the next season. The Gents lost Dugar to a concussion in an 18-13 win against Cecilia in Week 3, forcing freshman Marquis Garrett into the lineup. Garrett performed “OK,” Wall said, but the momentum the team had built in the Cecilia game had been derailed. Dugar’s injury came on top of three linebackers going down in Week 1, including linebacker Markel Domino’s season-ending leg break. The offensive line was also banged up at times.

Crowley won just one other game for the rest of the season, a 27-0 win against DeQuincy in Week 5, and Wall admits he’s “skeptical” of how his team will respond after a 2-8 campaign. Wall, however, said his team seemingly flipped a switch at the end of last season, and the senior leadership is in place to regain the mojo the program recently had. Wall said players weren’t all that phased by the coaching change, and not much has changed overall, especially in terms of assistant coaches. New defensive coordinator Kyron Benoit, a former UL linebacker, has added a few positive wrinkles to the defense, and Stuart Cook and Kaine Guidry are taking over the offense.

As long as it avoids the injury bug, there’s no reason Crowley shouldn’t be an improved football team. The Gents have talent and experience in basically every position group. Dugar has the athleticism and composure to command the offense, and the backfield and offensive line are deep enough for Crowley to be a run-heavy team. Expect the Gents to throw the ball only when it’s most convenient or necessary. Crowley will run a 3-4 base defense, which fits the speed it has up front, but the Gents will be somewhat multiple.

Crowley moved down in classification and will play in District 5-3A, which includes rival Eunice and an athletic Northwest team. The Gents open up with Iowa and Westlake, games Crowley lost by a combined four points last season. Cecilia, a team the Gents beat last year, awaits in the third week, but the Bulldogs are primed for a big year. Then Crowley starts district play with matchups against the Bobcats and Raiders, so the first five weeks of the season should be grueling. But if Crowley can survive that and steal a few wins, it should be in good position to make the playoffs and possibly compete for a district title.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Paul Dugar(Photo11: Docq Gaspard/Special to the Adve)

Paul Dugar, QB, 5-7, 160: Crowley coach Jeptha Wall can’t explain it, but he knows it when he sees it: Dugar has the “it” factor. A starter on defense as a freshman, Dugar is a terrific athlete who commands the respect of his teammates without saying much. The senior was plagued by injuries last season, including a concussion, so his health is critical.

Crowley's Keith Wilson(Photo11: Docq Gaspard/Special to the Adve)

Keith Wilson, RB, 5-7, 160: Wilson is Crowley’s top returning tailback in a backfield that could employ four players routinely. The speedy senior has already faced adversity in his career when he broke his leg as a freshman and needed major surgery. He then waited patiently behind Ty’Von Griffin as a sophomore and made the All-District second team last season. Even with a steady rotation, Wilson should get the lion’s share of the carries in a run-heavy offense.

Desmond Harmon(Photo11: Docq Gaspard/Special to the Adve)

Desmond Harmon, NG, 6-0, 240: The summer before his freshman season, Harmon severely cut his toe in a lawnmower accident and needed surgery. But that didn’t stop the All-District first teamer from becoming a starter by the end of his first year with a program. The senior will team up with his brother, sophomore defensive end Kendall Harmon, and senior defensive end Michael Dupre in the Gents’ three-man front.

Chris Lewis(Photo11: Docq Gaspard/Special to the Adve)

Chris Lewis, WR, 5-11, 180: Lewis is a returning starter at wide receiver, but his value lies in his versatility. The jack-of-trades senior is capable of lining up at safety one play and then lining up at corner the next. Crowley won’t throw the ball often, but expect him to be targeted when the Gents do.

Markel Domino(Photo11: Docq Gaspard/Special to the Adve)

Markel Domino, LB, 5-11, 195: Domino’s sophomore season ended before it really got started, as he broke his leg in the first week and did not return. He was one of three linebackers to go down in that first game against Iowa. Because of that, he doesn’t have the experience that other defenders have, but he’s capable of playing both outside and inside linebacker. He should make for a good tandem with outside linebacker Jalean Jenkins, a long and lean playmaker.